Planning to Survive

[johnsf1980]

What ever happened to following the bits I read in the road code book the other day about riding in staggered formation, having less experienced riders in the front behind the leader and more experienced riders following behind, etc?

[Ixion]

Might I suggest folks go on a course that teaches road sense rather than rider skill.

..

Ah, that was the distinction that I was trying to grasp. Thank you

A lot of the focus here seems to be around "acquiring skills", more specifically those relating to handling the bike for maximum speed and performance. Which is good, and I'm not knocking it.

But there's another sort of skills , which is what Mr TwoSeven is referring to. And it's hard to acquire by following a fast rider.

For a learner, it's not knowing how to go round a corner 20kph faster that will keep them alive, it's road sense (road craft we used to call it)

I don't know how you teach it though.

[Skunk]

A mate of mine is like that. Great bike skills, no road skills...

[R6_kid:Me]

cheers for the input. Im not gonna shun anyone, the reason i didnt get ALL the perspectives in there is coz i was getting tired of typing

I understand and agree with all points made. The 'skills' courses i refered to were more as a suggestion to help people save their bacon in a situation where they wouldnt have been able to having not done the course - if you catch my drift. But i see what you mean about road sense etc.

Another thing i didnt really emphasise enough is speed and as mentioned the proximity of other riders. Doing things at high speed requires a faster reaction time, usually faster than the human brain can give - this leads to accidents.

I know for a fact that my accident, and indeed all my close calls over my past 2 years of riding have been due to following to close, or even being just a tad too fast.

Too anyone reading this thread, please read with an open mind and take note of any additional points/ammendments made. I am a relatively inexperienced rider and im not affraid to say it. Kiwibiker is a community where you can improve your riding and get a greater experience from your riding. This thread is just a heads up and a point in the direction for making all of our riding safer and more responsible... i just dont want to lose anymore KB'ers

be safe and stay alive

happy biking
~G~

[R6_kid:Me]

What ever happened to following the bits I read in the road code book the other day about riding in staggered formation, having less experienced riders in the front behind the leader and more experienced riders following behind, etc?

For a cruise that is usually the case, but i think you will find that with high paced riding it gets a bit hard to conform with that.

[Gremlin]

When I did my BHS with John, after the test I asked him what sort of courses there were to improve skills on the bike (since they can literally save your bacon)

That course that you can do to shorten your restricted is a theory course. Surely it would be better to have a practical one?? I know it might not be feasible (supplying bikes, following the riders) but surely its worth it?

I don't need to shorten anything, I want more skills. So doing the bad thing is easier??

Stoopid...

I think a company (the one thats sorta attached to John) has set up a full on course at one of the airfields. Roundabouts etc. That sounds like a much better option.